لا أشعر بحالة جيدة

You can drop this into a conversation whenever someone asks 'How are you?' or if you need to leave a social event early. If you are a woman, remember to change the gender. You would say أنا مش حاسة (ana mish hassa) and keep كويسة (kwayyisa) the same. It is very flexible. You can add خالص (khalis) at the end to mean 'not at all'. This shows you are really struggling.

Use it when you wake up with a cold. Use it when you are at a loud party and your social battery is at zero. It is perfect for texting a friend to cancel plans. It works well at the office if you need to tell your boss you are heading home. It is honest but keeps your privacy intact. No one will press you for details if you sound tired enough.

Do not use this if you are in an emergency. If it is a 911 situation, be more specific. Also, avoid using it as a casual greeting. In some cultures, 'not bad' is a greeting. In Arabic, saying this will make people stop and worry about you. They will start offering you tea and lemon immediately. Only say it if you actually want some sympathy or a way out of a situation.

In Egyptian culture, health is a common topic of conversation. However, people often use general phrases like this to avoid 'the evil eye' or simply to be modest. When you say this, expect a flurry of 'Al-salama' (get well soon) responses. Egyptians are very caring. They might suggest a specific herbal drink like yansoon (anise) or karkadeh (hibiscus). It is a phrase that triggers a communal 'care mode' in those around you.

You might hear تعبان (ta'ban) which means 'tired' or 'sick'. Another one is مش مظبوط (mish mazboot) which literally means 'not adjusted' or 'not right'. If you want to be more dramatic, you can say جسمي مكسر (jismi mikassar) meaning 'my body is broken'. But أنا مش حاسس بحالة كويسة remains the most standard, polite way to express general malaise.